Klerksdorp Record, Rustenburg - The Martial Arts SA provincial championships were held from May 17-18 and Ryu Kyu Goju Karate in Klerksdorp sent four students to compete.
The karatekas brought home 19 medals, placing the club sixth on the Kihapp rankings out of 19 clubs that attended the tournament. Sensei Nathen Olivier, competing in Division Black Belt 16-30, returned home as the NW Kata Champion, NW Weapon Kata Champion and NW Point Sparing Champion.
He also competed under the Pitt BJJ dojo & RKG dojo banner and won gold for Ju-Jitsu Light Continuous (white belt division) and silver for Combat Weapons, Continuous Sparing, Traditional Kumite and Battle of the Bandits Exhibition Fight.
Nathen finished the tournament No 1 out of 162 fighters.
Marko Blignaut competed in the division green-purple belt 10-12 years. He won gold for NW Traditional Kata and NW Traditional Kumite and silver for Combat Weapon Sparing, Point Sparing and bronze for Continuous Sparing.
Joseph Kedamile (white to orange belt 16-44 years) won gold for Kata, Traditional Kumite and silver for Continuous Sparing.
Ruben Else (white - Orange 13-15 years) won gold for Weapon Sparing, Traditional Kumite and silver for Point Sparing and Continuous Sparing.
